'My Dying Wish': A Surprise Wedding Fairytale For a Terminally-ill Single Mum, 23

A terminally-ill young mother has been given a dream wedding as one of her dying wishes - with a male model as her groom.

Kayleigh Duff, 23, was devastated last February when doctors told her an hereditary gene defect had developed into terminal liver cancer. The same rare disease killed her father at the age of 37 in 1998. Single Kayleigh began chemotherapy in March and drew up a bucket list of things she wanted to do before she died - including getting married.

But even though she has no partner, her best friend Katie Birch organised a mock big day for her - calling in handsome male model to play the role of Mr. Right.

Kayleigh was pampered with hair and make-up artists before being whisked to fairytale venue in Kent in a vintage Jaguar.

Guests included her mum Beverley Cox, 46, grandparents Sharon, 70, and Ian Day, 71, and two year-old son Kai.

And waiting for her was a handsome model booked for the day to play the dutiful role of her groom. The guests quaffed champagne and a wedding cake while the 'bride' posed for pictures. Tearful Kayleigh, from Herne Bay, Kent, said: 'The groom was so nice and was really handsome.

'It was a bit awkward at first because obviously it's a bizarre situation - I couldn't stop laughing. I didn't expect any of it, it was mad. It really was a dream come true. It was great.

Proud mum Beverley said: 'She looked beautiful. Kayleigh always wanted to get married and wear a lovely dress. 'It's been quite overwhelming. You see Kayleigh with a nice young man on her arm and you forget about what is going on. It was like it was really happening for her and although it's not going to be for real, to us it was real and we have got lovely pictures and memories. It is a beautiful dress. It looks like it was made for her.'

Kayleigh suffers from a rare hereditary genetic disorder called Familial adenomatous polyposis which causes polyps to grow on the large intestine - raising the risk of developing cancer. She was first diagnosed with cancer last June and doctors operated on her to remove the growths. But in February follow-up tests found the illness had spread to her bloodstream and medics told her she will never be fully rid of it. Instead they hope to prolong her life by keeping the cancer at bay with regular chemotherapy.

Kayleigh has been forced to quit her job as a kitchen assistant as she wants to devote as much time as possible to Kai.

She has also started a bucket list of dreams including days out with her son to the London Aquariam, Madame Tussauds and Legoland.

Wedding planner Katie, 28, said: 'I saw the wedding was on her wish list so I decided to arrange the whole thing. Everyone has helped and donated because she is such a nice person. She looked absolutely beautiful. She was so stunning.'